The alarming decline in Eastern Scheldt lobsters due to mass mortality continues to puzzle researchers, prompting Wageningen University & Research to initiate another study starting in January. Last season’s lobsters were found weakened, and while previous inquiries linked the deaths to steel slag from Tata Steel, results indicated no significant health impacts. The new research will extend over four years to investigate lobster and mussel populations, water quality, and other environmental factors to uncover potential causes of the crisis.